Highlanders 2026
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@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2026:
@upthelanders Does he have a contract with the Highlanders for 2026?
There is nothing to suggest he is coming back into the fold.
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Great too see Pledger starting at 9 for Otago this weekend. We also get a look at Tayne Harvey who’s starting on the left wing for Southland on Friday, how good!
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
@cala7x said in Highlanders 2026:
What a lad Podcast with Angus Ta'avao release being brought forward to tomorrow morning. To announce/ confirm his move to the Highlanders
There will be an announcement at 6.30pm tonight.
Yeah interesting that one member asked about the signing. The Marketing Manager reacted with an emoji to it. Then boom we are getting likely announcements. Hopefully it is confirming a few guys. Not just Ta'avao
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@sparky said in Highlanders 2026:
Why are the Highlanders recruiting very old men? Weird recruitment strategy.
Because predominantly our squad is full of very young men. This year was the youngest squad in the comp. We lacked a bit of experience in certain games, so need to shore things up a bit. Smart signing around supporting the young lads.
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@sparky said in Highlanders 2026:
Why are the Highlanders recruiting very old men? Weird recruitment strategy.
Yeah a dud signing in my view. He’s been struggling at scrum time for Auckland so far and didn’t offer much for the Blues last year. Weird. Definitely seems passed it.
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Props are few and far between in NZ and it makes it pretty hard when some teams have 2/3 players AB quality props on their roster. Until something changes in that regard you are forced to go out and make these kinds of signings and Angus is the best available.
I’d rather sign Angus to a 1 year deal than some random from overseas. He isn’t signed to start every week, he’s there to have a solid guy off the bench who can close a game which is something our bench props struggled with last season and rotate with Ma’u when needed.
He has All Black experience which is only a good thing and someone for Ma’u to learn off. Ma’u was asked too start way too often last year so this signing will benefit him. To top it off he can also cover both sides of the scrum at a pinch which makes him even more valuable.
Much better than relying on a very raw and unproven Wingham.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
Props are few and far between in NZ and it makes it pretty hard when some teams have 2/3 players AB quality props on their roster. Until something changes in that regard you are forced to go out and make these kinds of signings and Angus is the best available.
I’d rather sign Angus to a 1 year deal than some random from overseas. He isn’t signed to start every week, he’s there to have a solid guy off the bench who can close a game which is something our bench props struggled with last season and rotate with Ma’u when needed.
He has All Black experience which is only a good thing and someone for Ma’u to learn off. Ma’u was asked too start way too often last year so this signing will benefit him. To top it off he can also cover both sides of the scrum at a pinch which makes him even more valuable.
Much better than relying on a very raw and unproven Wingham.
Ta’avao’s form seems to be falling off a cliff but he may have one more year of okay-ish footy left in him. I can see why the Highlanders have signed him but in terms of playing big minutes next year, I just can’t see it.
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@SouthernMann He's struggling at NPC level already. If he's got wisdom and experience to pass on he can do that as a coach. He's blocking young talent that should be given it's chance and should clearly be hanging up his boots.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2026:
@Landers92 The problem wasn't on the TH side as Kautai will hold up his side of the scrum. If DLB is still the reserve LH prop nothing will change. Bartlett still has his L plates at SR level.
Certainly agree around DLB. 11 years of service is a good stint. He isn't what we need anymore. I really like Josh Bartlett. He just needs time in the saddle. Jack Sexton is a decent option locally.
I don't see Ta'avao starting, at least regularly. Primarily he will be a 25 minute bench guy. As for blocking young guys. The Landers have enough young guys. We have more than any other Super side. Some experience, even at the tail end of their career is useful. I see him playing a similar role to what Bryn Evans did a few years ago.
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@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2026:
What is the likelyhood of getting Nuggy for a final swansong with the Landers before he hangs up his boots?
Nilch I'd say. Lives on the Coromandel. The squad has also locked down its three halfbacks with Fakatava, Pledger and Lennox.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
I really like Josh Bartlett. He just needs time in the saddle.
You’d think next SR season Bartlett will get plenty of opportunities to claim that bench spot. With Aidan Ross now gone, Bartlett is getting lots of minutes for the Steamers and he’s looked good so far, to me at least. He brings a lot of energy and mobility, which are good traits to get from your bench props.
It’s still up in the air whether he’s up to it at the next level at scrum and maul time (he hasn’t been a liability so far, is all I can really say) but what’s stood out to me is his speed off the line defensively. He’s making good reads and catching attackers behind the gain line – 3 dominant tackles already in the first two rounds of the NPC, tied for 2nd among loosehead props alongside, funnily enough, Daniel Lienert Brown – which you’d think would be a pleasing sight to Jamie Joseph and David Kidwell, who’ll undoubtedly will want to bring serious line speed in defence next year.
With Aidan Ross gone, Ofa Tu’ungafasi still to come back from a long-term injury and Mafileo probably being in high demand as a potential back-up tighthead at other SR teams, bench loosehead isn’t a position with a lot of experience across NZ SR teams next season. It seems like a good time to give a player like Bartlett a shot and see whether he can make it work.
